Hydraulic pruning tool



Sept. 25, 1945.

F. A. MATULICH HYDRAULIC PRUNING TOOL Filed Oct. 13, ,1944

INVENTOR Fred H. MaZuZich Jazz-Z; m

w a I I I I n I k ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 25, 1945 UNITED Y STATEHYDRAULIC PRUNING Proof. Y 1 l Fred A- Matulich, Drytovvn, Calif. 1

Application October 1 7 Claims. relied-+1803 This invention relates ingeneral to an improved pruning tool, and particularly foruse invineyards; the invention being directed in particular, and it is anobject to provide, a pruning tool which is hand manipulated but poweractuated by fluid'pressure.

Another object of this invention is to provide a hand supported, fluidpressure power actuated pruning tool which comprises, in combinationwith a handle, a fixedblade and a cooperating movable'blade, a powercylinder arranged to actuate the blade, anda fluid pressure supplysystem connected with the cylinder and including a control valve and atrigger adjacent the handle to operate the valve.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensivedevice and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purposefor which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relativearrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the followingspecification and claims.

in use.

Figure 2 is an enlargedside elevation partly in section.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary front elevation of the tool. I V Referringnow'more particularly to the characters of reference onthe drawing, thetool comprises a hand grip or handle I fitted at one end witha forwardlyprojecting blade 2, said blade including a substantially square edge 3disposed at right angles to the handle I and facing toward its oppositeend.

At said opposite end the handle I includes a forwardly projecting leg 4whose outer end is enlarged to provide a circular base 5 disposed atright angles to the handle I and facing the edge 3 of blade 2.

A cylinder 5 is fixed to the base 5 and projects toward the blade 2,such cylinder including, at its free end, a cylinder head I. A piston 8is slidable in the cylinder 6 and includes a piston rod 9 which extendsthrough a guide sleeve If] on the head I; said rodterminating at itsfree end outwardly of the cylinder. A compression spring II surroundsthe piston rod 9 in the cylinder and is engaged between the head I andpiston 8; such spring acting to retract the piston.

At its outer end the piston rod 9 is secured to the base I2 of a flatknife blade I3 whose outer edge is sharpened as at I4, and which outeredge lies parallel to and is alined with the edge 3 of Figure 1 is aside elevation of the pruning tool 3, 1944, Serial 55359155? same. Thebase 12 of knifeblade i3 the handle 1 I blade .2. forcooperativeengagement with .the is guided between spaced upstanding guide plates 15secured onthercylinder head .I.

Fluidlpressureis supplied to and ventedfrorn the cylinder fitbeyond. thepiston 8 by meansof a supplyconduit I6, and a return conduit. I'l,which'conduits are formed'in the handleI and leg 34,1,0f the. tool. At.the outer end of the leg 4 the conduits I6. and IT lead into thecylinder 6, while at the opposite ,end of thehandle I said conduitsterminate in fittingsg indicated gener ally at I8; Thefittings I8areadapted for connection: with, flexible tubes "l9 which lead to=,asource of fluid pressure, preferably hydraulic; ';It is intended thatthis source o-f-fluid pressure shall be carried and actuated bytheworkeryand-preferably will comprise a device embodying theinvention.of-myxco-pending application -for U. S. Letters Patent onfFoot-actuated pressure generator, SerialNo..558,592, fileol- October13, 1944.

Flow of fluid pressure toiand from the cylinder 6, and, through theconduits lfi'andgl'l, is selectivelycontrolled by the operator by meansof a relatively smallpiston valve 20. associated with saidvalvebeingexposed-to the front of the handle adjacent one end thereofand including. a finger. loop or trigger 2 I through which the-operatorfs index finger is adapted to engage. The valve 26 is arrangedso-that only the conduitv IE5 or conduit ;I-'I is open at;,one time, andis normally advancedby a spring 22 so;that conduit I1 is normally open,and a t, .which,time

the piston-B is retracted and with-the tool blades apart.

In use, a twig to be cut is engaged between the blades 2 and I3, and theoperator then depresses the valve 20 by thetrigger" 2|, closing conduitI! and opening conduit I6. When this occurs fluid pressure surges intothe cylinder 6 and advances the piston 8, causing the blade I3 torapidly advance into cutting engagement with the twig. When the operatorreleases the trigger 2! the conduit I6 is closed, the conduit I1 isopen, and the spring II immediately retracts the piston B and blade I3to starting position, and preparatory to a further cutting operation.

From the foregoing description it will be read ily seen that I haveproduced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of theinvention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferredconstruction of the de vice, still in practice such deviations from.such detail may be resorted to as do not form a dewith said fixedblade, and manually actuated means to control operation of the powercylinder; said manually actuated control means including a valve mountedin connection with the handle, and a valve operatin trigger disposedadjacent said handle for finger engagement.

5. A portable, hand supported pruning tool comprising a handle, a fixedblade projecting laterally from adjacent one end of the handle, a fixedleg projecting laterally in the same direction from adjacent thenotherend of the handle, a fluid pressure actuated power cylinder mounted onthe outer end portion of the handle subterminating short of the fixedblade, said cylinder including a piston and projecting from the endadjacent the fixed blade, another blade secured on the outer end of therod adapted to cooperate with said fixed blade, and manually actuatedmeans to control operation of the power cylinder.

2. A tool as in claim 1 in which the piston rod is normally springretracted and said. other blade normally clear of the fixed blade.

3. A portable, hand supported pruning tool comprising a handle, a, fixedblade mounted in connection with and projecting laterally from thehandle adjacent one end thereof, a fixed leg projecting in the samedirection from the handle adjacent its other end, a fluid pressureactuated power cylinder mounted on the leg in spaced re 1 lation to thehandle and extending axially toward but terminating short of the fixedblade, said cylinder including a piston and projecting from the endadjacent the fixed blade, another blade secured on the outer end of therod adapted to cooperate with said fixed blade, and manually actuatedmeans tocontrol operation of the power cylinder; the cylinder includinga head adjacent said other blade, and a pair of guide plates secured onthe head parallel to-the piston rod extending on opposite sides of saidother blade in guiding relation thereto, said guide platesterminatingshort of the fixed blade.

4. A portable hand supported pruning tool comprising a handle, a fixedblade mounted in connection with and projecting laterally from thehandle adjacent one end thereof, a fixed leg projecting in the samedirection from the handle adjacent its other end, a fluid pressureactuated power cylinder mounted on the leg in spaced'relation to thehandle extending axially toward but terminating short of the fixedblade, said cylinder including a piston and projecting from the endadjacent the fixed blade, another blade secured on the outer end of therod adapted to cooperate stantially parallel to but spaced therefrom,said cylinder terminating at its free end some distance from the fixedblade and including a piston rod projecting from said end, another blademounted on the projecting end of the piston rod in position forcooperation with the fixed blade upon advance of the rod, the rod beingnormally retracted and said other blade then being clear of the fixedblade, and manually actuated means to control operation of the powercylinder.-

6. A portable, hand supported prunin tool comprising a handle, a fixedblade propecting laterally from adjacent one end of the handle, a fixedleg projecting laterally in the same direction from adjacent the otherend of the handle, a fluid pressure actuated power cylinder mounted onthe outer end portion of the handle sub-- stantially parallel to'butspaced therefrom, said cylinder terminating at its free end'somedistance from the fixed blade and including a. piston rod projectingfrom said end, another blade mounted on the projecting end of. thepiston rod in position for cooperation with the fixed blade upon advanceof the rod, the rod being normally retracted and said other blade thenbeing clear of the fixed blade, and manually actuated means to controloperation of the powe; cylinder; the handle of said leg including apassage system therethrough in communication with the power cylinder, avalve mounted in the handle operative to selectively control how to andfrom said cylinder, and means to introduce fluid pressure into saidsystem.

7. A tool as in claim 6 in which the. valve is sli'dalble. substantiallyradially of the handle adjacent said one end thereof, and in a directiontoward the power cylinder, and an exposed trigger on the valve operativeby one finger of the hand which grasps the handle.

FRED A. MATULICH.

